Coronavirus: Counties to waive levies on foodstuffs, basic supplies

- A meeting between county representatives and the national government was held on Monday, March 30

- The meeting resolved to have counties waive levies on foodstuffs and basic commodities

- According to Interior Ministry, the move is aimed at making the items available and affordable to Kenyans

Amid calls for lockdown, the national government and the counties have agreed to waive cess levies on foodstuffs and other essential supplies to make it affordable to Kenyans.

The resolution was arrived at during a closed door meeting that was chaired by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, other members of the Cabinet and representatives from the Council of Governors.

In a Twitter post on Monday, March 30, the Interior Ministry said the move was aimed at making the foodstuffs available to Kenyans at affordable rates in bid to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Following a meeting between the two levels of government, counties shall forthwith waive cess levies on foodstuffs, essential household goods and critical supplies to facilitate efficient movement and guarantee affordability of these items as Kenya combats the COVID-19 pandemic," read the statement.

The announcement came barely hours after another internal memo which had been leaked on social media was dismissed as fake.

The fake letter indicated there was possibility of a 21-days lockdown and that the State Department of Devolution was undertaking to supply food ration to various sub-locations based on the number of persons affected.

The country is currently under curfew and on Monday, March 30, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, during a presser held outside Afya House announced that the tide had turned in regards to how the virus was spreading.

"It is now evident that the virus is being spread through community transmission, this means the disease is no longer imported from outside but it is here with us. We are now spreading it amongst ourselves," CS Kagwe announced.

With such factors taken into consideration, the possibility of a lockdown is high in bid to contain spread of the virus.

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